cherry pick your clients!

In a day job, there may be times when you don’t always get along with every single supervisor, coworker or client that comes into the office.

One of the benefits of being a freelancer is that you get to pick & choose your clients. (Sure, sometimes money is tight and you don’t have the luxury to be incredibly picky).

You will be speaking to this person on a regular basis, so make sure you consult first with a face-to-face over coffee. Are they on the other side of the country? Enjoy a continental cup o’ joe over skype. The point is, get a feel for the client personally before moving on to any sort of proposal.

No paycheck will be worth it if you are stuck dealing with somebody you can’t stand.

Do they seem passionate about their business or product?

Do they have realistic goals in mind?

Are they communicative / accessible or do you go days / weeks without contact?

Are they somebody you would be proud to have on your resume / portfolio someday? Meaning…do they inspire you?

It’s easy to work for somebody who feels passionate and confident in themselves or their product. As a freelancer, you shouldn’t be settling for anything less than these types of clients – your hours are too valuable to waste getting frustrated on sub-par prospects. The worst thing you can do is take on a client that ends up making you regret the project or worse, burn any bridges!

In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d give a quick case study run-down on some of my most inspiring clients this year and what they are up to these days:

Recent case studies of inspiring clients:

• Everybody learns public speaking in schools, but what about how to listen?
  Congrats to Chris Fama, Cayuga Community College professor for his thesis for his second master’s degree “listening” being published!

  The book, called “A Listening Curriculum for the Lower-Division College Student,” helps professors create a course solely on listening – a skill Fama believes is not taught enough in schools. The book is now selling on Amazon.com. Published by the German company Lambert Academic Publishing, the book sells for $55. Chris has an inspiring work ethic, keen research skills and unique insights that truly will help shape the future of communication.

• We are in an age of a reading renaissance, where Young Adult (YA) novels like Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games spark infectious interest in books at an early age. A perhaps unexpected – but welcomed effect – of this generation is young aspiring writers. Allyson Richards started writing her first novel Enlightened when she was 15 years old. Currently 17, she is developing her supernatural fiction novels into a 4-part series that is sure to capture the hearts of readers, from early tweens to Twilight moms.Her year was full of national, regional & local TV, radio and internet features; book festivals; secured speaking opportunities for libraries, schools, clubs and book stores. Allyson Richards most recently emceed her local library’s teen reading week. She manages to juggle these engagements with the poise & professionalism of a true industry veteran. Look out for, publishing world! =)Some people go their whole lives without go after their dreams headfirst. Allyson’s accomplishments would be admirable for anyone; but for someone to achieve her dreams before high school? Her passion is contagious and she is a joy to work with.
• One of the most fabulous ladies of Orlando, Heather Unger of Heather the Realtor launched her new website and gained even more momentum establishing herself as THE realtor for first time buyers and families alike. What I loved about Heather is she is not afraid to be quirky, different and “own” it. She has an unparalleled sense of style (you can tell from her new site and the homes she sells) and such a wide array of life experiences. She was on the Bachelor, House Hunters and sold more than $50 million worth of real estate in Orlando?

What about you? Where do you find your favorite clients?

JK really knew what she was doing.

Don’t worry, I am not talking about turning my home office into Hogwarts or anything, but there are a few tricks up my freelance sleeve that I can attribute to my four-eyed friend.

Modesty is underrated. Think about it. When Harry was a small, insecure orphan and he found out his powers were indeed, magic, he did not go around lifting up his bangs, Bieber-style, pointing out his lighting scar. Everybody else talked him up, gushing about his legacy and foreshadowing his importance. Even when he first demonstrated telltale acts of bravery, he did not inflate his accomplishments. Only when he gets cocky for a chapter or two does it backfire on him. Moral: Let your actions speak for themselves. Don’t just tell a prospective client what you will do for them – do it. Give them an example of two of the types of ideas you can bring to the table.

It’s okay to acknowledge and say the name of your “evil enemy.”
Initially, everyone in the Wizarding World would gasp in horror if they heard the name “Voldemort” escape someone’s lips. Harry learned to defy this concept later on in the series, realizing that just saying the name wouldn’t bring destruction. It would, however, let your enemy know you are still a formidable opponent, and force their hand, putting the proverbial Quiddich ball in their court.

Of course, there are many cases when it’s looked down upon to mention your competitor in advertisements or articles. A start-up company needs to prove themselves first. But look at companies like Apple versus Google, or the most recent example of New Egg calling out Best Buy. Sometimes it only brings to light certain company weaknesses or perceptions that give you a chance to respond accurately and in some cases, spin the story the complete other way. In  this instance, either ignore a parody and either poke fun right back or comment intelligently. (Responding by going overboard with defensive corporate legalese is almost like Malfoy bullying Ron repeatedly just because Ron mutters a joke under his breath.)

If your mentor told you to trust somebody – and you trust your mentor – follow their footsteps and don’t over think it.
The friend of your friend is your friend. (I won’t go into too much detail here in case of spoiling the last movie for those who didn’t read all the books). But let’s just say an old mentor or professor constantly talks fondly about another professional contact, but you keep hearing rumors that the person is not the greatest person to associate with. If you trust your mentor, you should also trust their judgment and not burn any unnecessary bridges. You will need them later!

Don’t open a 50-year-old book without knowing the reason it was shut to begin with.
Remember when Ginny Weasley became possessed by Tom Riddle by confiscating the book and then getting sucked into its magical – yet evil – vortex of communication? Similar to the old adage “don’t take down a fence without knowing the reason it was put up,” this tip is especially important when it comes to the business world. Before making any huge process changes at work, make sure to research the history and purpose behind the current methods. Somebody before you just might have known what they were doing, so take some time before judging books by their covers.

Discover your inner Patronus
A Patronus Charm is an insubstantial animal protector created by the advanced Patronus Charm spell, and one way to defend against Dementors and certain other dark creatures.

Patronus shapes been said to reflect the personality or feelings of the witch or wizard. For example, Harry creates a stag, Hermoine creates an otter and Ron creates a Jack Russell terrier. When faced with risky decisions in the business world, do you avoid the situation, or face it head on with your own strategies and tactics? Many people reach a certain level of success, but very few can maintain on top for a long period of time. Providing great service, listening to client feedback and constantly improving without getting too comfortable are just a few ways to protect your business.

Awards are not the most important thing.
The Goblet of Fire was thought of to be the most honorable award bestowed upon a wizard. Contestants were forced to sweat blood and tears to participate in dangerous, exhausting tasks to receive…a Goblet. A Goblet that sucked you into another location where your enemy has you right where they want you. I am not saying that submitting to awards makes you more vulnerable – a little friendly competition is always healthy. And who doesn’t want a shiny trophy or two, telling the world of an accomplishment of glories past? The trick is to not let it consume you. Don’t let the idea of an award dangle in front of you, making you lose sleep when those are precious hours you could be using to dedicate to your client or office. If your clients are happy and feel you are their priority, then you all win in the end.

In the real world, nobody cares what your Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWL) score was, or about your Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test (NEWT) courses.
Sure, a diploma is impressive and shows dedication. But how often do you check a new hire’s GPA or their exam scores? It really doesn’t matter what how high your grades are as long as the internships, the connections, the leadership roles and the portfolio can show off what makes you unique and proves you can excel at the desired position you want when you graduate. I wish I could go back in time and tell my studious self to not let school define me. It’s how you apply that knowledge outside the classroom that matters most.

Sacrifice for the greater good of the company or client.
Don’t literally sacrifice yourself or stop eating or anything! But as we all know, valiant Harry and the Order of the Phoenix risked their lives to help save the world from evil (on several occasions). Be not a burden, but a blessing, to your business. Don’t get in your own way. Instead of wondering why somebody else in the office is getting promoted and you are not, stop feeling sorry for yourself and try harder. If you own your company, don’t get discouraged with small failures or feel defeated when you lose out on a project. It can become a vicious cycle of failure, insecurity and then defeat. Instead, remember why you are here in the first place and try to become more selfless. If you work for a company, try to see the end goal from your boss’s perspective and do your best to help the business grow. If you work for yourself, then remember that clients always come first. If you remain selfless in the workplace and keep pushing forward the battles that lie ahead, you just may come out victorious.

I can think of a million more, but I must be off now. My clients need me! =)

Cheers to the final Harry Potter movie!

The competition is fierce out there, no matter what your industry.

From designing an illustrious billboard or scripting a masterpiece of a press release, to innovatively cutting [the right] corners so you stay “in the black” this quarter… one thing remains certain: creativity is a must-have these days, not a luxury.

Creativity block?

Ever leave a brainstorming meeting in the morning, only to have your mind flooded with great ideas later that day, when you are cruising with the windows down and music blasting? It’s just as inevitable as thinking of the perfect ‘comeback’ to a bully an hour after he leaves. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable. But other times, you may be able to tinker with fate by psyching yourself out long enough to plan a preemptive “creativity block” attack.

Try this:

When a client or supervisor requests a brainstorming appointment, request a meeting agenda prior to discussing the project at least three days in advance. Think about the basic project goals for a few minutes, stew over the concepts, and then force it out of your mind. Chances are, random yet relevant ideas will creep their way into your head a day or two later. Whether you were triggered by a song on the radio, the latest reddit post, or a snide comment your barista spewed this a.m., you’ll still have plenty of time to structure your thoughts and prep for the meeting.

While I want to save some good stuff for later, it’s been way too long since I made a lovely list. And I love lists. So, below are a few classic creative quickies:

- Poem journals
- Dream notebooks
- Visual storyboards – Joe Duffy-style http://www.duffy.com/
- Making a home made gift for someone you love (extra points if you have never attempted that particular item before.) I am trying a blanket right now, and so far it’s me: zero, needles: 57. But it will be worth it.  And also recently, created my first YouTube-esque video that is a spoof of a favorite spoof. Just think of the thing that person is very excited about at the moment, pop culture or otherwise, and see how you can “make it your own.”
- Balderdash or Scattergories. These games get your mind going like no other. Don’t knock ‘em til you’ve tried ‘em.
- Reading Shock Therapy. If you typically swoon over Nicholas Sparks romance novels, try to get a thirst for Twilight. If you usually dig humor books like Stephen Colbert, see how quickly you can solve a mystery novel. Switch it up as often as you switch shampoos, and you may be pleased with your shiny new ideas
- Attend those cocktail hours or movie nights that are slightly out of your inner circle. Before declining, ask yourself “why not?” You can learn something new and inspiring every day, if you pay attention. Often in the least likely of people.
- Take a mini notebook attached with a pen with you everywhere. I mean, everywhere. Recently, I captured an idea while cycling at the gym. Had I not recorded it then and there, it may have escaped entirely, since we tend to second guess ourselves about what is “worth” saving or repeating. If you keep your random ideas in this little notebook, you can refer back to it from time to time.

Intimidated that you won’t be able to top your last victory? Thanks to Zen Habits, I found this insightful video on Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. The last half is my favorite:
Elizbeth Gilbert on Nurturing Creativity on TED, Zen Habits

Ironically, a little bit of insomnia and this post topic inspired the concept of a regular AMUSEing Fridays ~ Weekly Creativity Ideas piece. Here’s to hoping it’s a good omen!

I have pages, doodles and post-its filled with creativity musings, but please feel free to share your own comments, thoughts and musings on the subject.